Washington (CNN) - The countdown to the Texas Republican gubernatorial primary is well underway, and with only two days remaining, attention is being paid to an unusual source: ABBA.
On Friday, Gov. Rick Perry's campaign released a new Web video with an unusual twist. The spot is set to a modified version of the Sweedish pop group ABBA's 1976 hit "Dancing Queen."
The video targets challenger Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and casts her as the "Earmark Queen." The original lyrics are gone – replaced with a new set performed by former American Idol contestant Stephanie Daulong.
"You are the Earmark Queen, Spend and spend wasting our money, Earmark Queen spend and spend, From the Treasury oh no!" Daulong croons.
The song is set to a series of visual reminders of what the Perry campaign refers to as "Hutchison's fiscally irresponsible 17 years in Washington."
Hutchison's campaign has launched their own set of Web videos leading up to the primary.
On Monday the Hutchinson campaign accused Gov. Perry of "rampant cronyism" and issued their own musically influenced Web video. Entitled "We're Pointing It Out," the Hutchison spot flashes newspaper articles about Perry to the tune of Tina Turner's "Simply The Best."
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Neither Perry nor Hutchinson is worthy of (re)election.
Perry wants some isolationist theocracy and Hutchinson hasn't accomplished anything in her years in government.
Bill White is the answer
By the way Holden Mirror... You embarrass me being from Texas. The correct English is: my family and me, not me and my family.
Hes a great Governator.and will help bring back outsourced jobs if we just work 60 weeks for 1.00 dollar an hour and no benefits.
Why are people on here complaining about democrats? There's no mention of anyone in this article BEING a democrat!
Ridiculous.
Oh and the 'Dancing Queen' thing... that's not clever and it's not remotely mature. But those are the trademarks of Republicans so... enjoy.
Kay Bailout Hutchison.
Sorry, sweetie. You can stay in Washington until you're up for reelection, at which time we'll replace you in the primary.
Can't wait to hear if ABBA gave their permission – I'll be shocked if they did (they don't seem very 'conservative' to me...)
If they have grounds, and didn't gove permission, I'd bet lots of money that they'll sue the pants off of them. GO ABBA!
In about 6 to 8 hours, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus will release a statement that the song was used illegally without their consent. Perry and the Republicans will not care because when they do something illegal and stupid it's for the good of the country, see torture, iraq war, sweetheart contracts to Halliburton, etc.
Bad move Perry. Kay Bailey Hutcheson is a popular figure in Texas, and rightly so. She has done all good for her state.
And did they get permission to use the song or did they just pull another Republican Heist of copyrighted material.
And these jokers say they believe in Free Enterprise???????? Right........
Did he get permission from ABBA to misuse their song? Republicans got in a lot of trouble during the Presidential campaign for using songs they had no rights to use. The artists were angry because they stole their work and because they Obama supporters.
Is Rick Perry a Queen?
The HBO special on gay men in power said there are many Republicans in the House and Senate who are gay. They said to just watch for those fight the hardest against any gay issue. Without naming names, they said those are the gay Republicans.
Are Republicans truthful about anything???
ABBA? Talk about being current. What is his first order of business going to be if he wins a new term? Deciding whether or not school children in Texas can wear bell-bottoms to school?
Molly Ivins would have a field day with this!
Pompadour Perry and "Dancing Queen"?.
There is a bit of irony in there somewhere!
Yes, I'm sure the best conservative campaign strategy is to use the tunes from a Swedish (SOCIALIST!!!) rock band whose members have repeatedly condemned capitalism. It's just a life saver that most republican constituents have no idea what ABBA is.
None of us in here really have anything to say rather he is an idiot or an embarrassment unless you are living and a voter in Texas right. I don't live there so to each his own after all we do live in America and from what I read he is ahead there in the polls. No I got Harry Reid now theres an embarrassment to Nevada.
Isn't Rick Perry Gay ? More will be reveled !
I have nothing against Gay's , I just find it strange when ones policies don't talk the walk.
Sounds like an instant lawsuit from ABBA to me. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (the songwriters for ABBA), are usually very selective about who can and cannot use their music. They have denied American politicians from using their music before (John McCain "Take A Chance On Me"), and I am sure once they get wind of this stinker of a campaign they'll be put an instant end to it.
New motto for the republican party; WE eat our own!!!!
Rick Perry has no room to call anyone else a queen.
Miss Daulong, this is not a smart career move.
Oh marketing at its best.
Living here in the Republic of Texas, we're hearing a lot of ads back and forth.
What is worth noting is Kay Bailey's ads never refute Perry's claims–she just shoots back with something else instead of explaining why she votes for unbelievable spending.
As these other governors are taking hits for their economies, we ought to give Perry credit where it is due. We've been much less affected by the economy and are actually attracting businesses and jobs.
So feel free to join us. That is anyone from states not named New York, California and/or Taxachussetts
I am NOT a fan of Rick Perry and if I lived in TX I'd definitely support Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson... But I have to admit that was a great ad!! It made me smile- it wasn't all doom and gloom like too many campaign ads are these days- it was more lighthearted and fun, but still got a serious message across.
This is an example of why there are so few good Republican comedians.
Perry is such a tool . . . and yet all the conservative idiots here in Texas keep voting him in! The Democrat has a snowball's chance to ever win and Perry's slime machine has already discredited KBH, so four more years of the same